Author: wp_archive_user

Women 2.0: Breaking the Glass Ceiling in the Startup Nation

Women 2.0: Breaking the Glass Ceiling in the Startup Nation

Jul 13, 2014 | , ,

Programs throughout the world are being aimed at girls from an early age to drive them to follow their hearts – and minds. These innovative programs consist of a large push for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and at the same time, female business entrepreneurs in Israel are also taking the stage. Israel is one of the leading nations in the world for tech and startups. It is a modern democratic country where those who work hard can better themselves, regardless of the gender divides that existed years ago. Women hold positions in government and the medical professions, education and clergy; and now, women in business and entrepreneurship are becoming prominent. Israel ranks as number 11 out of 59 developed countries in regards to participation of women in the workplace. It can also be seen that Israeli women are in fairly high executive positions, and are ranked 24th out of the 59 countries accounted for. Struggling with the gender gap Why is this a big deal? To understand this question, one must understand the years of...

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Zack’s App of the Week: Product Hunt

Zack’s App of the Week: Product Hunt

Jul 6, 2014 | ,

Finding big trends — and the companies making them happen — is paramount for success as an early stage investor. I’ve written about tools angel investors use to identify and track potential investments in my Forbes column as I try to bubble up some of these apps in my weekly column here on the OurCrowd blog. One tool that’s burst on the scene is so simple yet makes so much sense. It’s called Product Hunt and was developed by a guy named Ryan Hoover. Product Hunt surfaces the best new products every day. Along with a list of cool apps, users of Product Hunt get access to read some of the smartest investors and entrepreneurs discuss the tools and apps. Frequently, in the comments section, the founder of the new app or software product will show up and answer questions about his/her product as they arise. Right now, only a few select contributors can share the apps they find and love — and that keeps the quality of the products high. Users can vote up and comment on the...

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40 Epic Resources for Investing in Startups

40 Epic Resources for Investing in Startups

Jul 1, 2014 | ,

When Sequoia Capital invested in Whatsapp, the venture capital firm didn’t know that within a short couple of years, the company would be sold for $19 billion (!). What they did know is that the firm employs a repeatable process to screen, diligence, and invest in high-powered startup companies in order to invest in what portend to be future billion dollar companies. There’s no doubt that this process has made the investment team — and its investors — very rich over the past couple decades. And now, as equity crowdfunding platforms like OurCrowd are proliferating, individual investors are getting the opportunity to make their own investments in the next Google, Facebook, and Apple. There’s a lot to understand about the angel investment process: from how it works to understanding terms sheets to exiting your investments successfully. With this end in mind, I put together a list of some of the best resources to learn more about investing in startups. Getting Started: How to be an angel investor: Paul Graham’s 2009 essay is as relevant now as it was when he wrote it. He...

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When startups and financial hubs collide: FinTech developments in the Startup Nation

When startups and financial hubs collide: FinTech developments in the Startup Nation

Jun 30, 2014 | , , ,

Banks and startups, the two worlds could hardly be further apart. Banks: colossal institutions, conservative in nature, often centuries of history. Startups: minimal staff, innovative and fledgling businesses. So why are some of the world’s major financial institutions heading to Tel Aviv to set up start-up accelerators? The answer: Fintech (financial technology). In the most recent development of the Startup Nation, the Israeli fintech space has earned the attention of banking institutions both in Israel and abroad. While there have been some notable success stories (Fundtech, Nice Systems and now, Check), Israel isn’t entirely famous for its fintech startups. However this is beginning to change. So what is fintech all about? Fintech in broad terms refers to the technologies and software available that ensure the smooth operations of the banking and the financial services industry. The services and applications developed in this space include electronic payment platforms, international money transfers, personal finance and asset management and crowdfunding. While the fintech market currently stands at $470 billion annually it is expected to grow at 5.4% annually. According to a recent report...

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5 ways investors can invest in the next WhatsApp

5 ways investors can invest in the next WhatsApp

Jun 23, 2014 | , ,

It’s not every day that investors get to buy a winning lottery ticket. But, that’s exactly what happened when Sequoia Capital invested in WhatsApp in 2011 at a $8M valuation. WhatsApp turned out to be one of the largest VC-backed M&A in history (it was acquired by Facebook at a $19 billion valuation). That’s a HUGE return for investors and it turns out that Sequoia happens to be pretty good at investing in startups in general. Check out the following chart that shows the VC firm’s top 10 M&A and IPO exits (just since 2009!) by valuation at time of exit. So, it’s clear that Sequoia is pretty adept at investing. If you’re an individual investor reading this, you’re probably asking yourself: how do I invest in the next WhatsApp? The answer lies with Sequoia. If you want to invest in the next WhatsApp, you’ve got to understand how Sequoia has created an assembly line of multi-billion dollar investments. 1) Understand the risk in each of your startup investments In what appears to be a rare public domain investment memo,...

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